He Threw Me Out At Six And Came Back Twenty Years Later To Marry Into My Family Chapter 06

The night before the press briefing, I barely slept.

The lights outside the window were bright.

But I kept thinking about that road twenty years ago.

Headlights coming from every direction.

Horns exploding in my ears.

I ran forward crying, lost a shoe, scraped my knees.

It wasn’t that I wanted to run away.

I wanted to catch up to Mom and Dad.

I was afraid that if they turned around and couldn’t find me, they’d be even angrier.

Kids are like that.

The one who got left behind is the one scared of upsetting the adults.

Later, the five Voss brothers found me.

Ronan was only twelve then. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around me.

Jett called the police.

Silas flagged down a car to get me to the hospital.

Knox crouched in front of me, repeating:

“Don’t be scared. We’re not bad guys.”

Milo was barely older than me. He was shaking with fear himself, but he pressed candy into my hand.

The Voss family didn’t secretly keep me.

They called the police, got me to a hospital, posted missing-person notices, cooperated with the investigation.

But the Hales refused to claim me.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know where I was.

They didn’t want me back.

Because the moment I opened my mouth, I’d say:

Dad made me get out of the car.

Mom didn’t come back for me.

And then my father’s carefully built loving-husband image would collapse.

My mother’s favorite drama-“a husband so possessive he loses control”-would become a scandal.

So they’d rather I be the abducted eldest daughter.

Rather keep me on a photo, milk the pity.

Than let me come back to the public alive.

Ronan knocked and came in.

“Elowen. The list is confirmed.”

He handed me a file.

“Hale shareholders, partner banks, foundation regulators, media, Hale relatives and friends-all attending.”

I nodded.

“My father wants to turn the briefing into a comeback for the marriage.”

Ronan’s eyes went cold.

“He’s already put out word that he’ll announce a Hale-Voss partnership on the Child Safety Alliance.”

I laughed.

“He really dares.”

Starlight Haven Foundation was founded by my father twenty years ago.

On paper, it helped families of abducted children.

In reality, massive funds flowed into PR firms, event companies, and brand consulting firms tied to Hale Enterprises.

He used his ‘searching father” identity to get resources, policy support, investor goodwill.

My disappearance was his calling card.

The next morning, the briefing venue was packed.

My father stood on stage, still the perfect husband, the philanthropist.

“Twenty years ago, my wife and I lost our eldest daughter.”

He paused, his voice rasping.

“After that, we founded Starlight Haven, hoping one fewer family would have to bear our pain.”

My mother sat in the audience, head down, wiping tears.

Liora held her hand and said softly, “Mom, if Elowen were still here, she’d want you and Dad to be okay.”

The cameras immediately swung to them.

So moving.

So warm.

I sat in the Voss family section, watching the performance. Suddenly, I wasn’t angry at all.

I just felt sick.

My father looked toward the Voss section.

“Today, I also hope Voss Consolidated will join Hale Enterprises in lighting the way home for more children.”

The applause that followed was scattered.

Then he looked at me.

“Miss Voss, since you have so many misunderstandings about the Hales, why not clear them up publicly today?”

I stood.

All five of my brothers stood with me.

Ronan said quietly, “We’re here.”

I nodded and walked to the stage.

As my father handed me the microphone, he lowered his voice.

“Stop now. It’s not too late.”

I looked at him.

“You should have told yourself that twenty years ago.”